Shock absorber



A. BOOR SHOCK ABSORBER Oct. 17, 1944.

Filed July 20, 1942 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR BOOK ATTOHNErS Patented a. 17,- 1944 SHOCK ABSORBER- Arthur Boor, Toledo, Ohio, asslgnor to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Applicatiofiululy 20, 1942, Serial No. 451,597

13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to shock absorbers and refers more particularly to direct acting hydraulic shock absorbers of the type having a cylinder operatively connected to one part of a pair of relatively movable parts and having a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder and operatively connected to the other part.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a shock absorber of the above general type characterized in that it differentially controls relative movement of the parts in one direction. In accordance with this invention, the shock absorber has a moderate retarding effect on the parts as the latter are relatively moved throughout a predetermined normal range of travel in one direction and has a-relatively greater retarding eifect as relative movement of the parts is continued in the same direction beyond the range set forth above.

Another object of this invention is to provide a direct acting tubular hydraulic shock absorber having a reserve chamber communicating with the cylinder intermediate the ends ,of the piston stroke in such a manner that fluid from the cylinder escapes relatively freely into the reserve chamber as the piston is moved in a direction.

toward the point of communication aforesaid.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shock absorber of the type set forth in the preceding paragraph having means for substantially restricting displacement of fluid from the portion of the cylinder in advance of the piston as the latter moves beyond the point of communication in the same direction set forth in the above paragraph. Thus, two definite stages of shock absorber control are provided as the parts are relatively moved in one direction and this is ing discharged directly at high velocity into the reserve'chamber.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a shock absorber constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

In Figure 1 of the drawing I have illustrated a direct acting tubular type of hydraulic shock absorber l0 having a cylinder II and having a tube, l2 surrounding the cylinder in concentric relation thereto. The internal diameter of the tube I2 is substantially greater than the external diameter of the cylinder II and cooperates with the latter to form an annular reserve chamber l3. The reserve chamber communicates with the lower end of the cylinder through the medium of ports l4 and communicates with the cylinder intermediate the ends of the latter through v the medium of a constantly open port I 5.

The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a head I 6 and the lower end of the tube l2 or reserve chamber I3 is closed by a cap I! having circumferentially spaced ribs l'la engaging and forming seats for the lower end of the cylinder H and forming side walls for the ports H. The cap I! is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the lower end of the tube 12 and is adapted to be connected to one part of a pair of relatively movable parts by means of a fixture l8. For the purpose of illustration, it will be assumed that the fixture is pivotally connected in the usual advantageous in cases where it is desired to delay the maximum damping action until the final travel of the parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide the above type of shock absorber with means enabling. relatively free flow of ,fiuid through. the

piston as the latter is moved in a direction opposite the one previously set forth and to retard this latter movement by providing a pressure operated valve controlled port between the reserve chamber and cylinder.

In additon to the foregoing, this invention contemplates maintaining a column of liquid in manner to the unsprung assembly 01 a vehicle.

The head It is provided with an enlarged portion 19 of suificient diameter to engage the inner surface of the tube [2 adjacent the upper end of the latter and is further provided with a reduced portion 20 which is suitably secured to the upper end of the cylinder H. The head I6 is clamped in place by means of a ring 2| which is threadedly mounted in the upper end of the tube l2 above the enlargement l9 and cooperates with this enlargement to clamp an annular seal 22 in place. The ring 2| also cooperates with the ribs "a to prevent the tube l2 from 'moving upwardly with respect to the cylinder II. The seal 22 coacts with the enlargement l9 to close theupper end of the reserve chamber l3-and to prevent escape of fluid from the reserve chamber.

It will also be noted from Figure 1 that the head [6 is formed with the centrally arranged here 23 of sufficient diameter to slidably receive a piston rod 24 having the lower end operatively connected to a piston 25 which has a sliding engagement with the inner surface of the cylinder The upper end of the piston rod 24 is provided with a fixture 26 adapted to be connected to the other of the relatively movable parts aforesaid. In the present instance, the fixture 23 is of the type which enables the same to be readily pivotally connected to the sprung assembly of a suitable vehicle.

In order to prevent fluid in the cylinder from escaping along the piston rod 24, the upper end of the head I6 is counterbored as at 21 and a. seal 23 is secured in the counterbored portion in frictional engagement with the piston rod 24. The seal 28 is assisted in the above function by mean of a port 29 formed in the head I6 and establishing communication between the reserve chamber l3 and the counterbore 21 at a point below the seal 28.

In accordance with the present invention, fluid in the cylinder H is permitted to flow in opposite directions through the piston 25 as the latter reciprocates in the cylinder and the rate of flow of the fluid in opposite directions through the piston is differentially controlled. In detail, relatively free flow of fluid through the piston is permitted when the piston is moved in a downward direction in the cylinder and more restricted flow of fluid through the piston is provided when the latter is moved in an upward direction in the cylinder.

For accomplishing the above results, the piston has two sets of passage 29 and 30, respectively, therethrough. The outer passages 29 are normally closed by a disc valve 3| clamped against the upper side of the piston and normally held in its closed position with respect to the ports 29 by means of a light spring 32. This valve is adapted to open upon downward movement of the piston to enable fluid to ficw relatively freely from the portion of the cylinder below the piston to the portion of the cylinder above the piston. The inner ports 30 are normally closed by a laminated disc valve 33 centrally clamped to the bottom surface of the piston by means of a fastener element 34 threaded on the lower end of the piston rod 24. The peripheral portions of the laminated disc valve are seated against the lower ends of the ports 30 by means of a coil spring 35 having the lower end abutting a flange on the fastener element 34 and having the opposite end acting on the disc valve 33. It will, of course, be understood that the disc valve 3| is apertured as at 36 to enable fluid in the cylinder above the piston to flow through the ports 30 as the piston moves in an upward direction. However, considerably greater pressure is required to open the disc valve 33 and, therefore, the flow' of fluid in a downward direction through the piston is restricted to a greater extent than the fiow of fluid in an upward direction through the piston.

Due to the presence of the piston rod 24 in the portion of the cylinder above the piston, it is necessary to provide for the transfer of fluid between the cylinder II and the reserve chamber l3. This is accomplished by the ports l4 and. in the present instance, the transfer of fluid through the ports is controlled by a compound valve 31. The valve 31 is secured in the lower end of the cylinder H and comprises a plate 38 having two sets of ports 39 and 40 therethrough. The outer ports 39 are normally closed by a disc valve 4| clamped at its center on the top surface of the plate and normally urged to its closed position by a light spring 42. The arrangement is such that when the piston is moved in an upward direction, fluid is permitted to flow relatively freely from the reserve chamber to the cylinder in order to compensate for the increased volume of the cylinder resulting from the displacement of the piston rod 24.

The inner ports are closed by a laminated disc valve 44 clamped at its center against the bottom surface of the plate 38 by means of a fastener element 45. The valve 44 is opened by the pressure rise in the lower end of the cylinder as the piston is moved in a downward direction and the pressure required to open the valve 44 is substantially greater than the pressure required to open the valve 4|. It follows from the above construction that the laminated disc valve 44 functions to restrict the escape of the fluid trapped in the cylinder ll below the piston 25 during the final portion'of its movement in a downward direction and, as a consequence, exercises a substantial control during this final phase of the operation.

Operation Assuming that both the cylinder H and the reserve chamber l3 are filled or are substantially filled with fluid, it will be noted that as the piston '25 moves in an upward direction from the position thereof shown in Figure 1, the volume of the portion of the cylinder above the piston diminishes and the pressure in this portion of the cylinder tends to increase. However, the fluid in the cylinder above the piston 25 escapes into the reserve chamber |3 through the constantly open port l5 and the rate of pressure rise in th cylinder above the piston de- 40 pends upon the size of the port l5 and the strength of the valve 33. Under normal operating conditions it is desired to maintain the valve 33 closed until the piston close or moves beyond the port I5 and, accordingly, the port I5 is of sufficient size to permit fluid to escape at such a rate that under ordinary circumstances only moderate pressure is built up in the cylinder above the piston during initial upward movement thereof. It should be noted, however, that the rate of escape of fluid through the port I5 may be varied to suit different conditions by merely altering the size of the port l5 and this invention contemplates such an arrangement.

In any event, it follows from the above that the opening l5 may be of such a size to permit relatively free upward movement of the piston until the piston is moved beyond the port l5 or until the latter is closed by the piston. When this phase of the operation is approached, considerable resistance is offered to continued upward movement of the piston because the valve 33 requires substantial pressure to open the same. Thus, during the normal stroke of the shock absorber in one direction, only moderate control is exercised by the shock absorber on the relatively movable parts to which it is attached and the more severe control is delayed until the final portion of the stroke where damping of the parts becomes of considerable importance in order to take care of abnormal conditions. It is also pointed out at this time that as the piston 25 moves upwardly throughout the final portion of its stroke, the valve 4| is opened permitting fluid to flow from the reserve chamber l3 to the portion of the cylinder below the piston. The valve ll -1 opened by the suction created in the lower portion of the cylinder as the volume of the latter is increased by an amount equal to the displacement of the piston rod 24.

It will, of course, be understood that as the piston 25 moves downwardly in the cylinder II from the upper end of the latter, fluid escapes through the port I5 until this port is closed by the piston and then fluid passes upwardly through the ports 29 past the valve 3|. When the piston moves downwardly beyond the port l5, fluid is also drawn into the upper portion of the cylinder ll through the port I5 and this operation assists in maintaining the shock absorber loaded.

As the piston 25 moves downwardly in the cylinder II, the pressure of the fluid in the lower portion of the cylinder below the piston ultimately becomes sufllcient to open the disc valve 44 and enable the excess fluid in the lower end of the cylinder to escape through passages 40 and ports it into the reserve chamber l3. Thus the construction insures damping downward movement of the piston throughout the flnal portion of its stroke.

With a construction of the above type, it is highly desirable to prevent air in the reserve chamber l3 passing through port l5 into the cylinder I l, and to prevent the fluid that is forced from the cylinder ll through port l5 from being discharged directly at high velocity into the reserve chamber. Thus, the cylinder II is surrounded by a sleeve 46 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the cylinder and cooperating with the exterior surface of the cylinder to form a relatively narrow space 41 for the fluid. .The upper end of the sleeve is suitably secured to the upper end of the cylinder by the head It. and the lower end of the sleeve is engaged at 'circumferentially spaced points 48 with thecylinder adjacent the lower end of the latter. The arrangement is such that fluid is maintained in the relatively small annular space 41 and forms a column of fluid in sealing relation to the port l5.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber having a constantly open port communicating with the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting escape of fluid from the cylinder as the piston is moved in a direction toward the port, means for maintaining fluid in sealing relation to said port, and

means including a valve controlled port through said piston adapted to retard continued movement of the piston in said direction after it passes the first mentioned port.

2. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber having a port communicating with the interior of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting relatively free flow of liquid from the portion of the cylinder in advance of the piston as the piston is moved in a direction toward the port, means in the reserve chamber for maintaining a column of fluid in sealing relation to the port, and a valve controlled port through said piston responsive to continued movement of the piston in the direction aforesaid beyond the port to displace liquid in advance of the piston at a substantially reduced rate.

3. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber reserve chamber and cylinder at one end of the"- having a cylinder adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber "having a port communicating with the interior of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the portion of the cylinder in advance of the piston as the latter is'moved in a direction toward said port, means for maintaining fluid in sealing relation to said port, a second port establishing communication between the piston stroke permitting fluid to flow from the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston is moved in a direction opposite the direction of movement aforesaid. and a pressure operated valve normally closing said second port.

4. A direct action hydraulic shock absorber having a cyihider adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber having a port communicating with the interior of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the portion of the cylinder in advancerof the piston as the latter is moved in a direction toward said port, means on .the cylinder for maintaining a column of fluid in sealing relation to said port, valve'controlled ports through the 'piston responsive to continued movement of the piston in the direction aforesaid beyond said port to provide for restricted flow of fluid through said piston, additional valve controlled ports responsive to movement ofthe piston in the opposite direction to permit relatively free flow of fluid through said piston, and means providing for restricted flow of fluid from the cylinder to the reserve chamber as said piston continues to move in said opposite direction.

5. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a tubular member surrounding the cylinder and cooperating" with the latter to form a reserve chamber, a port establishing communication between the reserve chamber and cylinder at a point intermediatethe stroke of the piston permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston moves in a direction toward the port,'a sleeve surrounding the ported portion of the cylinder in spaced relation thereto to insure maintaining a column of liquid in sealing relation to said port; and means responsive to continued movement of the piston in the direction aforesaid beyond the port to provide for restricted flow of fluid through the piston.

6. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber having a port communicating with the interior of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting relatively tubular member surrounding the cyilnder and.

cooperating with the latter to form a reserve chamber. a port establishing communication between the reserve chamber and cylinder at a point intermediate the stroke of the piston permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston moves in a direction toward the port, means on the cylinder in spaced relation thereto for maintaining a column of liquid in sealing relation to said port, and

means including a valve controlled port adapted to retard continued movement of the piston in said direction after it passes the first mentioned port.

8. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a tubular member surrounding the cylinder and cooperating with the latter to form a reserve chamber, a port establishing communication between the reserve chamber and cylinder at a point intermediate the stroke of the piston permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston moves in a direction toward the port. means on the cylinder for maintaining a column of liquid in sealing relation to-said port, and means including a valve controlled port adapted to retard continued movement of the piston in said direction afterit passes the first mentioned port.

9. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a reserve chamber having a port communicating with the interior of the cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the portion of the cylinder in advance of the piston as the latter is moved in a direction toward said port, means including a valve controlled port adapted to retard continued movement of the piston in said direction after it passes the first mentioned port, means for maintaining fluid in sealing relation to said port, and means providing for restricted flow of fluid from one end of the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston is moved in a direction opposite the direction of movement aforesaid.

10. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a liquid, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a tubular member surrounding the cylinder and cooperating with the latter to form a reserve chamber, a port establishing communication between the reserve chamber and cylinder at a point intermediate the stroke of the piston permitting relatively free flow of fluid from the cylinder into the reserve chamber as the piston moves in a direction toward the port, means including a valve controlled passage adapted to retard continued movement of the piston in said direction after it passes said port, and a sleeve surrounding the ported portion of the cylinder in spaced relation thereto to insure maintaining a column of liquid in sealing relation to said port.

11. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a fluida a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a fluid passage therethrough, a reserve chamber having a constantly open port in direct communication with said cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke and permitting escape of fluid from said cylinder to said reserve chamber as the piston is moved in a direction "toward said open port, means on the cylinder for maintaining fluid in sealing relation to said port, and means including a valve carried by the piston and operable to close the passage therethrough while the piston is moved toward said open port but yieldable when the piston reaches or moves beyond said open port to retard'continued movement of the piston in said direction.

12. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder adapted to contain a fluid, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a fluid passage therethrough, a reserve chamber having a constantly open port in direct communication with said cylinder intermediate the ends of the piston stroke and permitting escape of fluid from said cylinder to said reserve chamber as the piston is moved in a direction toward said open port, a sleeve on the cylinder for maintaining fluid in sealing relation to said port, and means including a valve carried by the piston and operable to close the passage therethrough while the piston is moved toward said open port but operable when the piston reaches or moves beyond said open port to control continued movement of said piston in said direction.

13. A direct acting hydraulic shock absorber having substantially concentrically arranged chambers, one being a cylinder, the other being a reserve chamber, the cylinder being provided substantially midway its ends with a constantly open port opening directly into the reserve chamber and permitting hydraulic medium to flow from one chamber to the other, a piston reciprocably mounted in the cylinder and adapted during reciprocating movement thereof to alternately cover and uncover said open port, said piston having means operable when the piston covers said port during movement of the piston in one direction to resist continued movement of the piston in said direction, and means substantially concentric with the cylinder for maintaining hydraulic medium in sealing relation to said port regardless of the position of the piston relative thereto. 

